Whales Sharks & Outback

Suggested months: March, April.

This journey traverses the width of the continent starting out in beautiful Sydney Harbour, with a tour by land and sea to observe the regions remarkable aquatic diversity and picturesque coastal headlands.

The Red Centre boasts vivid red sandstone canyons that are 350 million years old, rich ochre coloured sand dunes, vast expanses of Mulga and Spinifex and the awe-inspiring rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. At this time, the region is rich in raptor birds and reptiles, with a highlight seeing the iconic Thorny Devil.

The world's largest fringeing reef at Ningaloo Marine Park is the final stop, with the opportunity to snorkel with the world's largest fish, the Whale Shark. Aside from this, visitors can spot turtles, Manta Rays, Dugongs, dolphins, whales and countless species of fish and marine invertebrates.

Embarking on a luxury cruiser, this nature packed adventure on Sydney’s doorstep will surprise and delight wildife lovers. Upon disembarking the boat on Sydney’s beautiful Northern beaches, guides will educate guests about the native wildlife and ecosystems on a walk through to Shelley Beach in Manly, where your undersea experience will commence.

A diverse range of marine wildlife inhabit the area, composed of sandy seabeds, rocky reefs, and protected bays perfect for snorkelling where you may encounter species such as Blue Groper, Gunthers and Dusky Butteflyfish, Black Rockcod, Wobbegongs, Cuttlefish, Potbelly Seahorses and the Weedy Sea Dragon.

Autumn: Mar-May - Birds

Autumn: Mar-May - Marine Mammals

From late April, Humpback Whales head north to give birth and mate in the waters of the Coral Sea. Large and small pods of Common Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphins are often sighted from the boat with opportunistic sightings include Minke Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas and Pilot Whales.

Traversing through ancient rocky and rugged ranges, vivid red sandstone canyons that are 350 million years old, rich ochre coloured sand dunes, vast expanses of Mulga and Spinifex and the awe-inspiring rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, this is the ultimate exploration of the Red Centre.

This small group, three or four-day immersive adventure showcases this beautiful desert region and the amazing flora and fauna that have evolved to thrive in this arid environment including numerous skinks, the iconic Thorny Devil, bushbirds, raptor birds, Kangaroos, Common Wallaroos and fascinating insects.

Guests will see Mt Conner, the third iconic rock in Central Australia, take in a stunning sunrise over Kata Tjuta’s spiritual domes and spend an afternoon exploring Uluru, the most culturally significant monolith in Australia.

As a finale, guests will travel to impressive Kings Canyon to undertake the inspirational Rim Walk or stroll along Kings Creek and marvel at the sandstone rock walls, towering more than 300 metres above the valley floor before returning to Alice Springs.

Seasonal highlights

Autumn: Mar-May - Birds

Nesting occur for Black-breasted Buzzards, Brown Falcons, Australian Hobby, Nankeen Kestrels and Wedge-tailed Eagles. Large flocks of Zebra Finches are generally seen across the desert skies at this time of year along with Galahs. Crimson Chats, Splendid Fairy Wrens and Australian Bustards are nomadic and present if rains have occurred.

Logistics: Take a 3 hour and 10 minute flight to Perth Airport (PER) and connect to a 2 hour flight to Exmouth (LEA).

Whaleshark Swim

The opportunity to swim with the Whaleshark is one of the world’s greatest interactive marine encounters. This fish, the largest of the shark family and the largest fish in the world at an average of 12 meters (40 foot) in length, is a harmless plankton eater, with their graceful and passive nature providing an unforgettable day out on the waters of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park.

Educational talks from on-board marine biologists, provide a fascinating insight into the rich biodiversity found in the area. Guests will be entertained by Bottlenose and Australian Humpback Dolphins, with a keen eye occasionally spotting Dugongs as they surface to take breath.

Autumn: Mar-May - Marine Mammals

Dugong can often spotted coming to the surface with May peak viewing time, plentiful Bottlenose and Australian Humpback Dolphins. Pseudo Orcas, Minke Whales, Pilot Whales, Short-beaked Common Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins are also occasionally sighted.